THE WHIP

“There is currently a legitimate role for the whip in racing” the BHA announced recently, and it added that the nature of the modern cushioned whip ensures that it does not compromise horse welfare.

This is a vast step in the right direction. The whip is not just used to encourage horses to run faster. Most of the time it is used to ensure that the galloping horse keeps straight and sticks to the line chosen by the jockey. If a horse decides to deviate sideways for no good reason accidents happen, sometimes serious.  Without a whip….. think in terms of a boat without a rudder.  This is a fact of life from the smallest child in the Pony Club to the oldest trainer sitting on his hack watching horses work.

Incidentally, Donec suspects that the totting-up process   (how the penalties for whip-abuse increase in relation to the number of incidents over a period of time) needs reviewing. Too often, it seems, seriously long bans are triggered by an accumulation of extremely minor offences.  The situation might warrant the attention of a suitable judge of these things – a horseman as well as (or rather than) a bean-counter.

STEWARDS

The announcement about the possible introduction of professional stewards to replace the amateurs who currently officiate with the help of professionals is interesting.

In recent years problems have arisen, not because of the inadequacy of the amateurs, but because of bad rules which higher authority imposes and which the professional stewards are charged with upholding.  In October 2011, for example, the rules required the Ascot stewards to fine jockey Soumillon £62,000 for a trivial offence. The amateur stewards revolted. The professionals insisted. Public opinion was outraged. Within a couple of days the verdict was rescinded.

It would have been a horror story if there hadn’t been the voice of common sense provided by the amateur stewards.

Donec suggests that, before dispensing with the amateur stewards entirely, the BHA has a long hard look at the quality of the rules, at the quality of those imposing them and those implementing them. If the rules have been contaminated, and the professional stewards are under pressure from someone whose judgement is not of the high standard required, the amateur stewards may just be the only link between the racecourse and common sense.

In which connection it is sad news that Paul Barton is leaving the BHA sooner rather than later. Donec doesn’t know him, but the word is that he is a top class man in every respect who will be a great loss to the sport. Only someone of his quality and experience will be able to ensure that the rules are sensible, that the penalties are proportionate, and that the stewards (professional and amateur) are of the necessary standard.  Granted top management of that kind, racing could well retain an “amateur” element, perhaps as a luxury, perhaps as a contact point with the public, perhaps in order to keep a toe in the real world.

All else being equal, amateur stewards might play a part in the campaign to get more people interested in racing.

 

RUGBY

“That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons that history has to teach.” Aldous Huxley. The recent Lions’ tour of New Zealand is an example. The tourists were not top class (they lost two of their first three warm-up games) and yet they drew the series, which suggests that the All Blacks were not top class either – remember that they were neaten by Ireland not so long ago. Conclusion? The game is not as healthy as it should be!

Nor is my computer. Please humour its obstinate insistence on making the rest of this round-up very black and white and rather overpowering. In due course (I have 28 days ) it will pay for its impertinence.

Where were we? Oh, yes. The game is not as healthy as it should be….Between 1970 and 1973 breathtakingly beautiful rugby was played, mainly by Wales, also by the All Blacks, and for the icing on the cake we had the Lions’ tour of New Zealand in which the visitors defeated the hosts for the only time in Lions’ history. Why didn’t the good times last? Why does that era not provide the benchmark for today’s game?  Because those heroic times have been consigned to history…. they have become the stuff of legend…. the modern game has moved on….

Rubbish! We live in the video age. The Lions of 1971 are available at the flick of a switch.

The trouble is in the heads of the top brass of International Rugby. Deluded men have decided that scrummaging is not pretty and have created the “breakdown” which has turned into a mud-wrestle that breeds foul play and serious injury. Have they forgotten coach Carwyn James’ bargain with his 71 Lions?

It was that if the forwards would scrummage like heroes the backs would turn “good ball” into tries – and it worked, and forwards and backs were highly delightedto be part of it.

Are they – the top brass – not aware that the Lions of 71 in all their glory are available…. on film?

What’s wrong with these people?

 

MONEY

I hear the sounds of distant coins heading towards the coffers of the racing industry. The eagle has yet to land, but he is going in the right direction and Mr Rust is to be congratulated for keeping his eye on the one target that matters more than any other. Previous administrations have simply accepted poverty as a fact of life, encouraging the industry to tighten its belt to such an extent that it is nearly cutting itself in half. Mr Rust is built on lines that preclude any such negativity.

Best wishes.

DONEC